AAR Mission: 136
Date: 27 February, 1945 (Day)
Target: Mainz, Industry
Aircraft: Burke and Beyond (7th mission)
Pilot: William Farnham
Bomb Aimer: Henry Prentise, Navigator: Vern Bolland, Flight Engineer: Trevor Monash, Radio Operator: George Harris, Mid-upper Gunner: Dennis Tryon, Tail Gunner: Anthony D'Witt
Which #@#! up top said the Jerry airforce is finished. Luckily for us the fighter support we had was magnificent — there were Mustangs and Thunderbolts everywhere. Our first and only encounter with an enemy fighter was as we crossed the Dutch/German border; a Fw190 at 10:30-high slipped by the escorts (that were dealing with an Me110 climbing at our underbelly) and put three shells into our Lanc — one jammed the starboard flaps, a second put some holes in the fuselage and a third hit the port ammo rack for the tail guns; a second pass from 1:30-Level missed us and he sped off. As we approached the target three Fw190 were engaged by our escort and immediately after a single Me110 was despatched by another Mustang.
Over the target the heavy flak burst all around but only one shell exploded close enough to jostle us and put a superficial hole in the starboard wing. Henry Prentise the bomb-aimer was determined to succeed this trip and with the aid of Oboe managed to hit the target with an estimated 20%. The flight home saw another four enemy fighters engaged by escorts and we landed at base safe and sound. We all bought Henry an extra round tonight at the pub.
Bomb run: ON; 20%
Bomber Damage: 4 hits (1 from flak). Repairs by tomorrow